Family-owned Continental Baking Company was awarded the Jamaica Business Development Corporation MSME Builder Award at the ninth annual Small Business Expo and Conference held at the Jamaica Pegasus in New Kingston on May 12.

Collecting the award on behalf of Continental Baking Company principal Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson, Stephen Sykes, the director of operations, said how much it meant to him personally.

“Mr Hendrickson and I spoke this morning and he expressed his appreciation and surprise. I don’t have much to say because I’m getting emotional,” Sykes said as he collected a citation and custom-designed award.

In presenting the award, Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) CEO Valerie Veira said the JBDC had taken note of Continental’s selfless interest in the sector through the implementation of initiatives primarily geared at providing marketing support for entrepreneurs.

“…to see a large organisation share this vision to a point where it invests millions to assist MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise) is heartening and worthy of commendation,” she said.

Veira said there is a lot more to do and they want to see as many large organisations as possible pick up the mantle and join them in helping MSMEs to grow.

“There are more like Continental in the business sector and we also recognise their efforts. This is how we build a nation – each one, teach one,” she said.

Continental is one of the leading producers of baked goods in Jamaica, contributing to the island’s economic growth under three distinct brands – National, HTB, and HoMade.

For more than 60 years, National has produced and distributed its baked goods locally, regionally and internationally. Additionally, the company has taken a keen interest in giving back, especially to the development of the MSME sector. These efforts have had far-reaching impact, touching many lives and boosting the successes of promising Jamaican entrepreneurs.

In 2010, the company introduced the Bold Ones of Manufacturing initiative to support and encourage recently established Jamaican manufacturers. The company goes through a rigorous process of selecting new businesses which are no more than seven years old, employ at least five people, primarily use indigenous materials to manufacture quality products, and are tax compliant.

To date, Continental has invested approximately $120 million through sponsorship to a total of 34 companies. The past awardees were also granted a promotional package which includes exhibits at the JMA-JEA expos, multi-media promotion and extensive exposure through ‘mobile’ advertisements with each company featured on the sides of the National trucks.

This year’s Bold Ones took a slightly different format as Continental partnered with

Business Access TV, and, for the first time, the programme is being televised.

The 2016 Bold Ones include Coldbush Organics Limited, producer of Mount Pleasant Farm chocolate and cocoa butter; DeJaFrut All Natural Sorbet, maker of pineapple, mango, guava, coconut, june plum sorbet; Ettenio, producer of hair care, bodycare and skincare products; Shavuot International Holdings Company Limited, which produces moringa tea and powder and scotch bonnet powder; Tritronic Electronics Limited, maker of digital surge protectors; Turner Innovations Limited, inventor of a sorrel harvesting machine and producer of dried sorrel; and Umium, manufacturer of coconut chocolate spread, and coconut almond spread.

Last year, following the success of the Bold Ones programme, Continental invited 52 MSMEs, ranging from manufacturers of home and lifestyle products to producers of craft and food items, to participate in a shopping event dubbed ‘A Jamaican-Made Christmas’.

The event, which was a huge success, was conceptualised by Hendrickson to assist small and medium-sized Jamaican businesses gain exposure that they may not otherwise have been able to afford and to create a platform for these businesses to reach potential customers.

The Small Business Expo and Conference also presented awards to 24 organisations for their contribution to the JBDC over the past 15 years.

The MSME Builder Award forms part of the JBDC’s 15th Anniversary celebrations and will become a key element of the Small Business Expo going forward.